Talks and discussions will cover LiDAR (scanning with a laser) and AI (artificial intelligence), virtual reality displays and the next generation of optical fibres set to deliver the internet.

The Future Photonics Hub outreach team will also be demonstrating the Photonics Music Workshop (funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering): an exploration of the science underpinning light and sound. The evening programme takes place on Wednesday, 22 May, at the John Hansard Gallery, Above Bar Street, Southampton, from 18:30-21:30. Doors open at 18:00.

Profess Martin Charlton will present: ‘Making light work of it: super-efficient LEDs and VR displays with nanotechnology’ where he will talk about how we can control light, using nanotechnology in ways that were previously impossible, to make super-efficient LED lighting and new displays for virtual reality headsets or mobile phones.

Third year PhD student, Iris Kramer, will also talk about using artificial intelligence to recognise archaeological buildings and burials from thousands of years ago from LiDAR maps, potentially discovering previously unknown sites.